Expansion-joint installer



May 11 1926.

' A. c. FISCHER EXPANSION JOINT INSTALLER Filed May 26, 1922.

Patented May 11, 1926. I

ALBERT c. Freon-safer cnrcaeo, fLmoIs.

nxrAnsIoN-Jom'r INSTALLER.

" Application filed May as, 1922. Serial No. 568,882.

Heretoforc it has been'the practice to install expansion joint in a manner which caused the installing apparatus to interfere with the contact between the joint and the concrete adjoining it.

My invention relates to an expansion joint installer which will not interfere with the contact of the concrete on the sides of the joint, and which will serve other purposes in the way of holding the joint rigid even though the most flexible expansion joint be used. a

My invention is accomplished by equipping theusual backing board with attachments which enable the asphaltic slab to be placed on thebacking board and held in place while'being'carried to the location where it is to be staked and held in place during succeeding operation of laying the concrete without buckling or danger of bending the joint, thusmaking it possible to install the most flexible joint in concrete roadways in a straight line across the-road. It has been heretofore proposed to use certain types of joint with reinforced sides that do not require the backing board, but this requires double staking on each side, thus weakening the concrete structure if the stakes are not removed. Likewise, a joint in the quarter inch size of this material is very flexible in hot. weather, and extremely diflicult to handle because of the effect of the heat on the asphaltic content of the joint. Likewise, most installers make it necessary to insert the expansion joint between the sides or projections of the installer, thus inaking it diflicult and inconvenient to install the joint. With my invention it is only necessary to transfer the slab or strip of asphaltfrom the crate to the backing board while lying flat, and laying over it the attachment of the backing board, which is fastoned by hinges, making it more convenient. to carry to thesection which is tobe provided with the expansion joint, and also making it easier to installby reason of the morerigid structure of the backing board. My" invention is new, original and simple, and accomplishes with speed what otherwsie would require time and considerable labor,

and which in actual practic'e has been found to be unsuccessful and impractical, wlth the' results thatiafter attempts to-place them on the market they have met with failure. i 'The improvement in question w ll bring elevational view of the installing device with.

the backing board in open position; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the backing board detached and equipped for service in molding asphalting oint; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a marginal strip adapted to be applied to the board of Fi ure 2 and forming a side wall of the mo d; Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the installin device in position but without the jointorming member; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the joint formingimember in position and the backing member removed to expose the joint-forming member; ure 6 is a view of the installing device as seen from the side opposite to that viewed her being in position, and the backing board being folded ther on and in the act of forcing the oint-forming member upon the retaining pins. The reference character (a) represents the backing board, which is' usually constructed out of wood, but any suitable material adapted for the purpose maybe used. ,(b) re resents the hinges attached'to thebacking board, and likewise attached to the bar (03). fold inwardly on the backing board, or may be provided to work in tion if it is so desired.

(e) represents small projections which I may be concical in shape with pointed ends, or which maybe of uniform thickness in size, or otherwise constructed, their purpose 1 The hinges aby the opposite jdirecjoint tobe installed, is prefer- Fig- -in Figures 4 and 5, the joint-forming mem- The bar a which is constructed either I the shape of a straight bar, parabolical' -is placedupon the backing board (a) The small projections or pegs may be'of wood, metal or other materials suitable for the purpose, and it is generally understood that a contrivance may be used such as a continuous projection which would likewise imbed itself; or the bar may be made without any projections whatsoever, the mere pressure of the bar holding the asphaltic material in place. i

(0) represents staking pins which are independent of the hinge action, and which are used to hold the backing board in place. They may be a part of the structure or may be constructed so as to be a separate unit of a structure and applied as an attachment, but the preferred form is that the entire structure should be so united together that there will be no possible loss of parts on the roadway. It can readily be understood that by attaching the crown of the pin (a) that they will place the installer in position without interfering in any way with any part of the structure.

It may be necessary when the installer is folded together that the backing board may have to be staked slightly on the oppositeend to prevent it flaring open. This does not involve any particular trouble or labor. Likewise, the pin (0') may be adjustable. and the bar (d) may likewise be adjustable, so that should the joint be of various sizes the installer will be adjustable. by lowering or "raising the bar (d). While such adjustment is not shown in the drawings it may be readily understood that a keyway or looking arrangement may be slit in the bar (d), or the hinge may be so equipped as to be slotted and permit ,of the raising and lowering of the bar ((1) on its fastenings.

As a further convenience of this joint in- "staller, the backing board (a) may be equipped as a mould, and enlarging upon this subject I refer to Figure 2, in which (a) represents the backing board, (g) a metal stri' used as one of the outlines or confines o the mould, (h) representing little holes drilled in the backing board so thatprojections of the strip (g) may fit into the oles holding the strip in rigid condition in this manner.

A contractor can pour the asphaltic material while in a heated condition on the backing board, and would manufacture his own. expansion joint and install it at the same time, b furnishing him with the proper asphaltlc material and furnishing him'adequate supplies and means yvith which to carry out this object with despatch and efiiciency, thus greatly reducing the cost .Of

installation to him.

It can readily be seen that by pouring asphaltic material in such a mould as shownby Figure 2, by first soaping the backing board or using talc or any other suitable substance to keep the asphaltic material from adhering, that a strip of expansion joint could be readily cast on the ground while the concrete is being poured between expansion joints, it would be just as convenient for one individual to make four or five of these strips incases where the joint would be used horizontally as well as transversely, and while the concrete was being poured in one section the asphaltic material, would be cooling, so that the joint could be installed and ready by the time that the next section is ready for these strips. Of course, at the present time these strips are furnished in open market and are available to the: contractor, but it requires packing, crating and the question of transportation is constantly encountered, the material often lying in the roadways many weeks before being used.

By enabling a contractor to prepare his own expansion joint on the job all this is eliminated, as he ,will receive his asphaltic material properly mixed in drums, and can use the same material on any job which he may have under contract. Likewise, a surplus of material will enable him to use it on other jobs, so that he will be able to buy his asphaltic material int large quantities and keep a continuous stock on hand, which may readily be used as required, or shipped to other jobs as needed.

After pouring the asphaltic material in the mould the strips (g) can readily be removed so that the slab of asphaltic expansion joint will lie in position, and all that is nec-.

Figure 4 represents the expansion joint installer set up in front of the end of a days pouring, illustrating the installer staked in the ground, showing the suspension bar ((1) with its projections and the backing board (a) folded over and out of the way, in order that concrete may be poured upon the opposite side ofthe installer.

In Figure 5 we have this same View in the same position with\ the exception that the expansion joint (Z) is mounted in place" and suspended by the bar ((Z) on the projections (e) with the backing board (a) folded over. In this position the installer is ready to re-' ceive the concrete batch which is poured to a level of thebar, the protruding crown'of the joint is thus pressed away from the projections and the installer pulled out by pullbar and the stake, so that the bar will be held in position while the opposite side of theconcrete mixture is poured."

In Figure 5, (1;) represents the h nges, ((Z)' the suspending bar, (1) slab of expansion 'oint, (6) represents the projections buried in the expansion joint and (a) the stake supports of the installer, (is) represents the concrete mixture put in lace.

. In Figure 6, (a) represents t efbacking board, (13) the hinges connecting the backing board and the attachment, (0) the stakes, ((Z) the supporting bar, (16) the projections on the supporting 'bar, the strip of asphaltic expansion joint. This illustration shows how the attachment is folded over on the expansion joint with the supporting bar pressed against the upper edge of the oint,

thus keeping it flat and in position for installation. It may readily be understood that various types of construction may be. utilized 1n bringing about the same results, and the stakesmay be either a part joined with the installer as a Whole or independently of the installer. Also the hinges themselves may be a part of the stakes, and other changes may be made which would not in any way affeet the general plan of preparing an expansion joint for installation from a casting 01 the joint to its satisfactory installation in the pavement, or by using. a premoulded joint which has already been prepared and laying same upon the backing board (a) in position for retention by support of the supporting bar (at) and the cross stake (0). It is also possible to fasten the backing board in some way to the stakes so that it will not be necessary to stake the opposite side of the backing board. However, it is preferable to eliminate all interference underground after the concrete has been .poured, so that the. stakes may be readily removed or'the installer itself readily removed at time of installation. One of the advantages of installing an expansion joint by my method is that a continuous joint can be cast and inserted;

likewise strips can be laid butted or' welded together and installed withgut allowing vacant spaces between joint ends, providing a continuous strip of expansion material ,between the concrete slabs.

In my application filed April 19, 1926, Se-;

rial No. 103,001, which is a division of the ing the strip when the backingmem present application, I am claiming the use of the equipment referred to in Figures 2 and3 of this application as a moulding apparatus with which the joint may be installed on the job.

What I claim is: i

' 1. Means for installing expansiomjoints in pavements, said means comprising a joint-suspending member, means for sustaining said suspending member in upr1g11t position, and means mounted on said sustaining member for engaging and holding one side only of an expansion joint strip while leaving the other side of the expa-nsion joint strip presented free and unobstructed for contact with the paving material with which it is'to be used.

2. Means for installing expansion joints in paving, comprising a suspending member, means mounted on said suspendin member 35 adapted to interengage with an support a paving joint strip upon said suspending member, said mean being located to leave one surface of the paving joint strip exposed'to receive paving material, and a backing member adapted to said exposed face of the pavin joint strip but removable therefrom wit out releasing the pavmg joint strip from thesuspending member.

3. Means for installing expansion joints 9 for paving comprising a suspending member, impaling pins carried by said suspending member in position to imbed themselves in the paving joint strip applied to said suspending member, and means adapted to overlie the face of the paving joint strip and press the same into impaled relation to said pins; the last named means being removable from the paving joint strip independently of the suspending means.

. 4. Means for installing expansion joints, comprising a backing member adapted to receive a joint strip, and a suspending member movable to position over the strip on said backing member; said suspend-ing memher having meansior engaging and support- J er 1s moved away from the strip.

5. Means for installing expansion'joints,

comprising a backing member adapted to receive a joint strip, and a suspending member movable to position over the strip on.

said backing member; said suspending member having means for engagjn and supporting the strip when the ac "ng memio ber is moved away from the strip and said backing and suspending members being movably connected together to guide them in. the1r movements to and from said strip.

An p on joint installer consisting 1 5 of a backing member, having hinges adapted to cooperate therewith, said hinges carrying a supporting member which ma be folded upon the backing means and staking means attached to said supporting means.

7. Means for installing expansion joints, comprising a backing member adapted to receive a joint strip, and a suspending member movable to position over'the strip on said backing member; said suspending mem:

her being provided with means for supporting it and the strip which it carries in an upright position upon the ground; said backing member being movable from the joint strip independently of said suspending member.

8. Means for installing expansion joints, comprising a backing member adapted to receive a joint strip, and a suspending member movable to position'ov'er the strip on said backingmember; said suspending member being provided with stakes adapted to be driven into the ground; and said backing member being removable from the strip independently of said suspending minher after the stakes are inserted.

9. The method of installing an expansion joint by providing expansion joint With a larger width than the width of the thickexpansion joint material, thus suspending v the expansion joint material between the supporting means and the backing means, later folding back the backing means and exposing the surface of the expansion joint material, the same remaining suspended upon the supporting means, and permitting the concrete to be poured about it, later removing the supporting means.

l0. The method of installing expansion joint by heating the expansion joint material upon the job, castingsame in an expansion joint installer, removing the moulding strips and properly staking the installer in position preparatory to the pouring of the concrete.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 24th day of May, A. D. 1922.

ALBERT o. FISCHER. 

